Egg cleaner



Oct. 5, 1948. E. T. MOLITOR 2,450,606

EGG CLEANER I Filed July 25, 1945 E m l: 22

Patented Oct. 5, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG CLEANER Edward T. Molitor, Seattle, Wash. Application Jlfly 23, 1945, Serial No. 606,512-

2 Claims.

This invention relates to egg cleaners and it has reference more particularly to means for the removing of dirt or stains from the surfaces of eggs for the purpose of enhancing their appearance and for increasing their market value.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an egg cleaning device of the above character whereby the cleaning operation may be effectively and quickly accomplished and with a minimum loss of eggs from breakage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide ,an egg cleaner of the buffer type that does not require the use of any liquid cleaning agent in connection therewith, nor does it require the withdrawing of the egg from the machine for the turning or reversing of the egg in the hand in order that all of its surface might be brought against the cleaning buffer.

More specifically stated, the objects of the present invention and the advantages to be obtained thereby, reside in the provision of an egg cleaner comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped buffer with elastic or resilient abrasive equipped walls and wherein the buffer is mounted for high speed rotation, by a motor driven head that is applied within one end of the cylindrical buffer body; the other end of the buffer body being open and of such diameter that an egg, held in the hand, may be located inside the buifer, easily handled and turned in order that all of its surface may be brought against the-abrasive wall,

It is also an object of this invention to provide an egg cleaning deviceof the character above stated wherein the bufier wall is of a resilient or elastic character, such as provided by a rubber tube, and will readily conform to the curvature of the egg when the eg is pressed against the wall.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts comprised in the machine and in its mode of operation, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the present egg cleaning machine, but showing the cylindrical buffer in longitudinal section for better understanding.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine, looking directly into the open end of the cylindrical buffer.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of the bufier wall in the axial direction of the buffer, showing the manner in which it conforms to the curvature of the eggshell when the egg is pressed against it.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the buffer wall transversely of the axial direction, illustrating the relationship of the abrasive strips that are applied thereon.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In its present preferred form of construction the device employs a small, electric motor 8 as the power source fixed on a base II]. This motor has its driveshaft I 1 extending from one end thereof and fixedly mounted on this shaft is a head, disk or wheel I2. This wheel may be of wood, or other suitable material and it is fixed Within one end of a cylindrical buffer of correspondin diameter, designated in its entirety by reference numeral [-5. The buffer is horizontally disposed and is mounted coaxially of the shaft I l and Wheel l2 so that, at high rate of rotation, there will be no undue vibration or detrimental eccentric action.

The buffer I5 is composed of rubber or other suitable flexible, or elastic material; for example, a rubber tube. In its present preferred form, it is approximately six inches in diameter and four inches long and the rubber walls thereof are approximately one-sixteenth inch thick. In the use of the device, the buffer is rotated at what may be termed a high rate of speed, but'this may be under control and varied to suit conditions or requirements. Axial rotation of the cylindrical buffer at high rate will cause the open outer end thereof to be somewhat diametrically expanded, and it will assume the form of a slightly tapering truncated cone as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1. Fixed to the buffer walls in the axial direction of the cylinder, and on the inside of its wall surfaces, are closely arranged strips of abrasive cloth 2!] such as emery cloth. These may be cemented or otherwise fixed to the buffer walls and they are located in close parallel relationship as indicated. Between the strips of abrasive, the walls of the buffer are provided with slots or perforations 22,

Assuming that the device is so constructed and assuming that the motor has been energized and that the cylindrical buffer is being rotated at the required speed, it will be understood that the tubular or cylindrical buffer body will assume the shape shown in Fig. 1. For cleaning an egg, the egg is held in the hand, and inserted within the open end of the buffer in such manner that a side surface of the egg may be brought into contact with the abrasive material on the buffer wall.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have indicated the manner in which the egg E may be engaged with the buffer,

flex and readily conform to the curvature of the contacted part of the egg thereby covering the maximum surface. The egg may be rotated or turned end for end in the hand without requiring that the hand be removed from the buffer. It is possible to contact any spot or an extended surface of the egg shell with the abrasive for rapid and efiectivecleaning.

In order to protect the operator in the event that an egg should be broken during the cleaning operation, I have applied an annular shield 23 about the open end of the buffer. This shield, for a six inch buffer, is approximately eight to ten inches in diameter, and two "inches Wide and is concentrically disposed about the open end of the buffer as shown inFig. 1. It is shown as fixed to a bracket 24 that, in turn, is fixed to the base l0. Should an egg break, the fluid from the egg will be discharged-centrifugally from the buffer and will .be caught by the shield 23. Preferably the shield will be slightly cupped or troughed in cross section so as toretain the fluid.

As an alternative, instead of cementing abrasive strips to the buffer wall it is anticipated that rubberbufier tubes might-be molded, or cast, with an abrasive contained on the inner wall surface. In any event it is not desirable that anything should be used to form theabrasive-surface that will interfere with .the diametrical expansion, elasticity or flexibility of the body which would interfere with its conforming readily to the curvature ,of the egg.

Devices of this character are relatively inexpensive yet quite effective for their intended purpose. Many more eggs can 'be cleaned with this machine within a given period of time than by any other machine now on the market. The particular advantage resides in the fact that the buffer is sufficientlylarge in diameter as..not to obstruct the vision .or impair handling .of the egg and theegg may be'cleaned in its entirety without having to withdraw the hand from :the 45 machine for turning the egg The operator, in cleaning the egg, .may use as .much or as .little pressure as required .and may touch'spotsor rela- 4 tively large surfaces. The device is simple in construction and in operation and embodies no dangerous parts that might cause injury to an operator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An egg cleaner comprising a hollow frustroconical body of resilient flexible material, open :at its larger end and having a wall closing its "smaller end, a motor having its driving shaft fixed to the said closing wall coaxially of the body and pieces of abrasive material applied to the inside surface of said body and there being openings through the body wall not covered by said pieces 'ofm'aterial.

2. .An egg cleaner comprising a hollow, substantially "frustro-conical body of resilient, flexible material, a rotatably driven shaft, a head block surface of said body lengthwise thereof; said body being open at its larger end and formed in its walls, betweensaid strips, with openings therethrough'.

EDWARD 'I'. MOLITOR.

REFERENCES CITED The "following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 35 Number Name Date 137,465 Nesser Apr. 1, 1873 490,682 Roemer Jan. 31, 1893 546,025 McKim et al Sept. 10, 1895 981,417 Halsey et a1. Jan. 10, 1911 49 1,292,372 Reisch et al Jan. 21,1919 2,095,379 'Coney Oct. 12, 1937 2,233,910 Carper Mar. .4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number country Date 201,366 Switzerland Feb. 16,1939 587,056 France Jan, .12, 1925 

